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It could be another winter filled with successes for the Electric City's two Class AA prep wrestling teams. The squads open the season this weekend at the Havre Invitational amid high hopes and plenty of optimism.

"I think we've got quite a few kids who are ready to make a breakthrough," said seventh-year C.M. Russell High coach Aaron Jensen. "The mood and attitude's real positive so far."

Ditto, of course, for the two-time defending state champion Great Falls High Bison.

No less than five defending state champions and five other state place-winners return for the Bison, who last year went 16-1 in duals and cruised to a second consecutive State AA title. It was the fifth overall for the program.

Can the Bison make it three in a row?

"I think we can," Komac said. "I absolutely expect every year to start fresh from scratch, and the goal is always the same. I believe there are four or five other real good teams around the state. They have the same goals. We expect to have a little bit of a target on us."

The chase of a three-peat makes for a little pressure.

"I personally don't really feel any," Komac said. "We will just focus on this season and try to be the best team we can."

Among the GFH defending state champions are seniors Jarren Komac, Walker Ferda and Casey Dobson, juniors Tommy McMillen and Kessler Leonard. Senior Randy Keesler finished second at the state meet a year ago, and four other returning lettermen placed in the top six.

Jarren Komac, son of the Bison coach, is a two-time state champion. So is McMillen.

"It's definitely a lot more (returning standouts) than we are used to starting the year with," Komac said.

And there's even more good grapplers in the pipeline.

"We have some freshmen that we like and that we think will make an impact for us, which is good," Komac said. "Because we know a few of those other teams will have good freshmen, too."

The Rustlers have four returning state-placers, including seniors Jared Dickson and Payton Sexe, who were second and third, respectively, at the State AA meet. Nick Grasseschi and Noah Danielson are also back after placing in the top six last February.

"We think we can be a pretty competitive team," said Jensen. "Jared was in the finals of every tourney and won quite a few last year. Both Sexe and Danielson will probably be at the same weight here to start (205), so we have real good depth there. And that's never a bad thing."

Chase Marmon and Tanner Grubb have seen a lot of mat time in the past. Junior David Bennyhoff had a solid year last season, and Nick Nordell, who was injured and missed the final part of the campaign, has looked real good in practice. Sophomores Devan Altenburg, Max Sechena and Noah Durnell are back after gaining valuable experience.

"Teague Sowers looks good for a freshman, and we've got a lot of other kids there who are pretty green. But I think they could turn into something," Jensen said. "We've got a lot of veterans and some pretty good experience at every weight. It could be a pretty good year for us."

The Bison won't have their full varsity lineup this weekend, thanks to a few lingering injuries from football season. Ferda and McMillen are a few weeks away from competing, as is veteran Caleb Shigley, Komac said.

"We hope to have everybody back by Christmas," said the GFH coach.

In Class AA, traditionally strong teams from Billings Skyview, Bozeman, Billings Senior and Missoula Sentinel will likely be chasing the Bison. Most of those teams will be in Great Falls for the CMR Holiday Classic in a few weeks. Then in January, many of the state's best wrestlers will gather at Great Falls High's Swarthout Fieldhouse for two major tournaments, the Class AA Duals and the Eastern AA Seeding Meet.